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Can you program a rover on Mars?

Mars Rover Mission

Snap code blocks together to drive a rover across Mars, dodge craters and teach it to make its own decisions.

Working prototype
Who it is forGrades 3–5 (ages 8–11)
SkillsSequences · Loops · If/else decisions
TypeRobotics simulator
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Before you begin

You’ll guess what might happen, make a choice, test it, and explain what changed. Wrong guesses are allowed (and encouraged).

How to use

  1. Read the challenge.
  2. Build or choose a model.
  3. Test it.
  4. Improve it.
  5. Explain why your final choice works.

Learning goals

  • Plan a route as a sequence of commands.
  • Use loops to repeat steps without rewriting them.
  • Use if/else so the rover reacts to what it senses.

Think again

What surprised you? What are you still not sure about? What would you test next?

About this prototype

Version 1, a working prototype. It hasn’t been tested with classes yet, so I’m not claiming any learning results.

Privacy

No sign-in is needed. The tool runs in your browser, and anything you type stays on your device. Please do not enter a child’s full name.